Crank handle for tools



July 19, 1949.

w. H. GAINES CRANK HANDLE F OR TOOLS Fi led Jply 17, 1946 "W. H. Gaines Patented July 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a socket wrench construction, and more particularly to socket wrenches designed primarily for use in removing and replacing nuts used in securing motor vehicle wheels to their hubs or axles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a socket wrench of this character having means for increasing the leverage to facilitate the operation of the wrench when removing nuts which have become seated and secured by rust or corrosion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench including a lever used for increasing the leverage of the wrench, the lever being pivotally connected to the wrench so that it may be readily thrown into and out of operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a wrench constructed in accordance with the invention, the pivoted lever being shown in its extended position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view partly in section, illustrating the means for securing the pivoted arm or lever of the wrench, in its inactive position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the wrench comprises a body including the oifset handle portion 5, hand grip 6 and crank I, which extends from one end of the body. The reference character 8 indicates the socket at the end of the crank l, which is positioned over the nut to be removed when operating the wrench.

Pivotally connected with the wrench is an arm 9, which is curved transversely, so that when the arm is moved to the position as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, it will fit around the shank l and be out of the way when not in use.

A pin indicated at extends from the arm 9 and is adapted to be engaged by the hook ll, formed at the forward end of the latch 12, which is pivotally mounted on the shank 1 adjacent to the inner end thereof.

The latch comprises spaced side walls l3 and an end wall [4, between which the coiled spring I5 is mounted, the spring l5 having its upper end fitted in the recess l6 formed in the lower edge of the bar ll, forming a part of the handle portion. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the arm 9 when swung into contact with the crank I, will be held against movement with respect to the shank I under normal conditions.

When it is desired to extend the arm to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 of the drawing, to increase leverage, the latch member is operated to pivot the hook ll out of contact with the pin ID. The arm may now be swung to its active position and gripped by the operator, to increase leverage when operating the wrench to remove an exceptionally tight nut.

When the arm 9 is swun to its inactive position, the hook ll snaps over the pin l0, securing the arm against accidental movement.

I claim:

A handle for tools, comprising a tool shank, a crank disposed at one end of the shank and extending laterally therefrom, an operating arm pivotally connected to the shank at the point where the crank merges with the shank, said operating arm being forked at one end and transversely curved and fitted over the shank, a pin extending between the sides of the forked end of the operating arm, a spring-pressed latch member pivotally mounted on the shank and ex tending across the shank adjacent said point, one end of the latch member seating in the forked end of the arm, the outer end extendin from the shank and constituting a finger piece and a hook at said one end of the latch member adapted to hook over the pin normally holding the operating arm in parallel relation against th side of the shank under normal conditions.

WILLIAM H. GAINES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 213,399 Di Bert Mar. 18, 1879 1,401,615 Lawrence Dec. 27, 1921 1,442,174 Oberjohann Jan. 16, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 480,035 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1938 828,676 France Feb. 21, 1938 

